Unorganised workers, slum dwellers protest deletion from BPL list in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Around 150 unorganised workers and slum dwellers from across the city assembled at the office of the Commissioner of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department on Cunningham Road on Wednesday to protest the state government's decision cancelling their Below Poverty Line (BPL) status without a notice. 

The group, mostly comprising women, informed the Commissioner that fair price shops in the city had started displaying lists comprising families whose BPL status would soon be changed to Above Poverty Line (APL) status. 

"There has been a lot of confusion in this regard. The Union government has been exerting pressure on the state government to reduce the number of BPL card beneficiaries. And the Karnataka government has also stated that the current list of BPL card holders contains many ineligible beneficiaries. The union government has provided a list of names, the BPL status of whom is to be changed. While the Commissioner stated that the list would be verified before the families' status would be changed, that doesn't appear to be the reality on the ground," said advocate and citizen activist Vinay K Sreenivasa, adding that there appears to be much confusion on the parameters under which the list had been prepared, including an 'unscientific income limit' among other criteria. 

In a letter submitted to Commissioner V V Jyotsna, the group specified the importance of the BPL card, which is used not only for daily ration but also for for medical purposes, pension and scholarships among other things. 

The letter requested the government to facilitate the verification of families whose BPL status has been revoked and revise the criteria set by the government for BPL status by involving civic and social organisations. 

The Commissioner asked the families who have been taken off the BPL list to file a complaint with the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department. 

Jyotsna did not respond to phone calls and messages seeking comment.